I was reading articles in some apologetic websites these past several days. I came across a really cheap argument against the Evangelical doctrine of salvation by faith alone. The argument goes: How can we say that we are saved by faith alone with no good works added when faith itself is a form of good work?
People using that argument are really childish. The apostle Paul teaches us this:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Now comes the detractors of Sola Fide giving the above argument. I wonder what would it be like if these detractors themselves tell that to Paul: "But Paul, faith itself is a good work!" They so miss the point.
They should be familiarized about the rationale of Sola Fide: Salvation is by grace and cannot be merited by good works but faith alone. We have given Ephesians 2:8-9, here some supporting verses from Romans:
And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6
However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. Romans 4:5
Salvation is God's doing and not by the efforts of man:
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. Romans 9:16
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5
Now after all these verses and a detractor would insist on his cheap argument, well, it is really childish.
People using that argument are really childish. The apostle Paul teaches us this:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Now comes the detractors of Sola Fide giving the above argument. I wonder what would it be like if these detractors themselves tell that to Paul: "But Paul, faith itself is a good work!" They so miss the point.
They should be familiarized about the rationale of Sola Fide: Salvation is by grace and cannot be merited by good works but faith alone. We have given Ephesians 2:8-9, here some supporting verses from Romans:
And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6
However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. Romans 4:5
Salvation is God's doing and not by the efforts of man:
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. Romans 9:16
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5
Now after all these verses and a detractor would insist on his cheap argument, well, it is really childish.
for the sake of readers, pls. clarify well if the Sola Fide doctrine teaches allows you to do crimes even you have faith in Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteHi again, Gepalta.
ReplyDeleteNo, we don't teach that sola fide allows us to do crime even if we have faith in Christ. I already wrote above: Salvation is by grace and cannot be merited by good works but faith alone. Meaning, salvation is not a salary which you must earn by working hard.
"However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness." Romans 4:5
While salvation is a work of God, God does not stop at saving someone. He changes them to become a new person.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2nd Corithians 5:17-18
[[salvation is not a salary which you must earn by working hard.]]
ReplyDeletePhilippians 2:12 WORK OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:12 WORK OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling.]
ReplyDeleteUhm, it says "work out" not "work for". If we can "work for" our salvation it is contradictory to Romans 4:5. Besides, would you happen to know how much or how many must we "work for" to earn salvation?
Philippians 2:12 WORK OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling.]
ReplyDeleteUhm, it says "work out" not "work for". If we can "work for" our salvation it is contradictory to Romans 4:5. Besides, would you happen to know how much or how many must we "work for" to earn salvation?
<<<<<ano po yung work out? kailangan po ba bilangin eto? bakit? di ba po bibibigay iyan ng Diyos hindi earn? kung earn po eh di dapat may may trabaho na ginawa para maka kubra ng sweldo?
To work out as used in the verse means to put in to practice.
Delete